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Sermon of John Y. Barlow, 24 December 1944: Great Persecutions Always Came Against Plural Marriage; We Have Not Endured as Much as During the Underground Days; Be Humble, and a Door Will Open; Why Hang Back?

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24 December 1944

Sermon of John Y. Barlow, 24 December 1944: Great Persecutions Always Came Against Plural Marriage; We Have Not Endured as Much as During the Underground Days; Be Humble, and a Door Will Open; Why Hang Back?

A dated talk by John Y. Barlow from the compiled volume Sermons of John Y. Barlow. The wording has not been changed. Reported by Leona Jeffs.

Salt Lake City, Utah, Lincoln Street

I have been greatly edified today, both in Sunday School and in meeting. I am glad to get back among the people here again, but I can say that we have a class of people down there [Short Creek] that are living and keeping the commandments of God and they have a very wonderful spirit. I was greatly taken up today with what Brother Rulon [Jeffs] said. When we make up our mind we are going to keep the commandments of God, there is only one decision we will have to make. If we do that, God will bless us and we will be at ease. If we don?t do that, we are on the sideline, afraid of following on through. I know the Gospel is true. There are a great many in this house who know the Gospel is true. Talk about the principle of Celestial Marriage! If it hadn?t been for that principle, we wouldn?t be here. The greatest persecutions that ever came before the world came with that principle. They hadn?t had anything to test the people before that. My grandfather and great grandfather went through the persecution in Missouri, and my grandfather was getting away from the mobs when he went to Nauvoo. And then a man here has the audacity to say that we are not ?fundamentalists?, but are just a few who have accepted the Gospel, when most of us here, or a great many of us, have been with the Church. Our parents and grandparents have been in it ever since it was organized. But they don?t hurt us any. I have said many times, it isn?t their lies that hurt us, but the little truths that hurt us. I can well remember the underground days. I can remember men hiding at our home and women being taken across. I remember Uncle John Woolley telling of a case where he went to Grantsville with a woman who gave birth to a child on the way, and he had to attend to her himself. How many of you have read the pamphlet that Ellis got out? Get it and follow up the trials and tribulations they went through. We haven?t gone through anything like that yet. What we will go through, I don?t know. But I do know this?if you are humble and prayerful, a door will be opened and we will be relieved. If we don?t get humble and prayerful, what will be the result? The Lord will whip us until we do. You take today in the Church, many of these brethren who are of the pure blood of Israel, and they will have to take punishment until even their enemies would weep. Now, if we want to miss some of that, it is by coming up and doing what Brother Rulon said today. What good is money, anyway, if it isn?t to the end of building up the Kingdom of God? President Young said he heard one of the Apostles say, ?Never use another dollar or dime of your money to build up the kingdom of the world, but use it to build up the Kingdom of God.? We have been taught we will never go to Jackson County unless we go back under the Celestial Law. That means we will not go back there unless we live that law. We can?t get back without. Why do we hang back? You can?t tell me that a man who is trying to live that law won?t get farther than one who isn?t. I ask God to bless you and start things?if you will make up your minds what you are going to do and what you aren?t going to do. No one can force you. Using force is on the devil?s ground. Now, we are not trying to force, and we are not asking to force. But we plead with you, brothers and sisters, to be humble and prayerful and don?t forget that the Lord is watching over you. He knows our conditions and He knows our hearts, and He is going to judge our hearts. God bless you, amen.